Osun asks residents to monitor govt projects

The Osun State Government has asked the citizens of the state to begin to monitor government projects to prevent contractors from shortchanging the government or doing shoddy jobs.

The Commissioner for Economic Planning, Budget and Development, Dr Olalekan Yinusa, gave the charge at the validation meeting of the state’s 10-year development plan and the year 2019 budget consultation forum in Ilesa, on Wednesday.

The commissioner said, “I want to charge citizens of the State of Osun to start monitoring all projects of the government starting from 2019 and alert them if foul play was noticed during the execution of those projects.

“One of the reasons for this plan is for Osun citizens to have sense of belonging in budget and execution. This will also put contractors on their toes and it would ensure that quality jobs are done.”

Yinusa explained that the state government was set to execute a 10-year development plan in its efforts to ensure steady development of key sectors as the state was preparing the 2019 budget.

Yinusa stressed that the state would make sure that the plan was citizens-inclusive, saying it would be easy for people to monitor projects if they were carried along from the conceptualisation of the ideas.

The commissioner said the new initiative would ensure development in infrastructure, human capital development and other key sectors of the economy.

Yinusa said, “Budget 2019 is about to commence and circular has been issued to Ministry, Department and Agency. Citizens of Osun are to add what should be given priority in its preparation.

“The State development plan will be a public document and outlines the state’s overarching policy direction and outcomes of the programmes, project and activities to be implemented by subsequent administrations in the state to ensure enduring legacies and sustainable economic development.”

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